South Dakota Retired School Personnel

SDRSP Newsletter“To Serve, Not to be Served.”

www.SDRSP.org • Affiliated with National Retired Teachers Association • Aug. 2017 Vol. 50 No. 2

Saluting Past Presidents on 70th National Anniversaryby Diana Glover

The year was 1947, and Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus of California found a retired teacher living in a chicken coop. “This cannot continue to be”, she said, and thus she founded our association, the National Retired Teachers Association. Eleven years later, after many requests, she created AARP for retired people of other careers.Our South Dakota association was formed in 1966, and we have been fortunate to have had amazing people step forward to leadership. In no particular order, let me bring you up to date on some of our former presidents. Five will be featured in this issue, and the remaining ones in the fall issue.

Louis Skubic of Brookings served as president from 1992 to 1994. He promoted things that helped the organization like the Driver’s Education Program, worked to improve membership and encouraged members to be involved with the state legislature. Today Louis and his wife have 3 children with PHD’s, and two of them are in education. Most of them were educated at South Dakota State University.

Charollene Coates, who served 2006 – 2008, was delighted to have a former lst grade student, Supt. Mark Greguson, accept the $10,000 Legacy Award for the Chester Schools from her at the 2008 state convention. Some of her projects were the membership campaign which increased membership by 234, establishing a website and setting up the state for our first volunteer Executive Director. She lives in a twin home in St. Martin’s Village near Rapid City and is amazed at the parenting skills of her grandchildren.

Don Kennedy, writing on his 86th birthday, July 18, regrets that he and Donna were not able to attend the spring convention in Deadwood. They miss the connections developed over the years. He remembers the schools and the members who assisted him as president. He and Donna taught many Driver’s Education classes, but due to her declining health and needing Don as a caretaker, he has had to drop membership in several organizations. They live in the home they’ve had in Rapid City many years.

2018 State Convention • May 1 + 2 • Sioux Falls Ramkota

SDRSP Officers2016 – 2018

(All phone prefixes – 605)

PRESIDENT Bill Zubke 886-8637• bzubke@hotmail.com417 N BroadwayWatertown, SD 57201

PAST-PRESIDENT Betty Beyer 725-5510 • C: 290-0215bjb61@nvc.net1508 Northview LaneAberdeen, SD 57401

PRESIDENT-ELECT Ron Riherd 484- 6942 • rriherd@netscape.net3945 Corral DriveRapid City, SD 57702

VICE-PRESIDENT Kay Ainslie 859-2670 • kainslie@gwtc.netCell 441-2449Box 182Philip, SD 57567

SECRETARY Judy Kroll krolljudith226@yahoo.com

TREASURER Pat Johnson 886-8756 • sdpjohnson@mac.com1226 E Kemp AveWatertown, SD 57201

MEMBERSHIP Bill and Cathy Zubke, 886-8637 • calz45@hotmail.com417 N BroadwayWatertown, SD 57201

COMMUNITY/HEALTH Joanna Jones, 450-0121 • joanna_jones@yahoo.com10559 West Highway 14Spearfish, SD 57783

NEWSLETTER Diana Glover 787-4631 • dnglover9@gmail.com4781 Sturgis RdRapid City, SD 57702

LEGISLATION Hank Kosters224-1825 • hank.g.kosters@gmail.com326 S JacksonPierre, SD 57501

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Nancy May, 718-0666 • nancymay@rushmore.com255 Texas St. Apt. 225Rapid City, SD 57701

Continued on pg. 2

Shirley Eisnach of Pierre served as president 2004-2006 and as the first volunteer Executive Director 2008-2012. She encouraged Pat Johnson and Annette Belkonnen to organize bus trips that boosted the organization both financially and socially. At age 18, she began her educational career in a rural school, and through the years has found the best “pay” to be observing former students’ successes in life. She and Dennis have twelve grandchildren including four adopted from Uganda and China. She serves as Pierre Area assistant treasurer.

Jay Ruckdaschel, formerly from Huron, lives in Hopkins, MN across the street from his youngest daughter.

He and Margaret have been married 62 years. As an educator, Jay was a teacher, guidance counselor, high school principal and superintendent of schools. As president, he enjoyed the people he met, trips to the legislature in Pierre, area meetings and workshops and the national meetings.

Kudos to the past presidents! Kudos to our current president! Kudos to your unit presidents! We salute your strong leadership and know we couldn’t do it without you.

...continued from pg. 1

Pg. 2

VALUE OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES By Joanna Jones, Community Service Chair

Scholarship Winners

This year according to the Independent Sector Organization’s research on charitable communities, organizations can correlate a dollar value for volunteer service at an hourly wage of $24.14. With our reported 64,660 hours, our volunteer time has a value of $1,560,892.40. South Dakota Retired School Personnel make a difference in the lives of their communities.

Why record these hours? Grants, for which organizations, cities, and the state apply, require in-kind funding. Our volunteer hours may help match 30% of a grant. On a $10,000 grant, that’s $3000 or 125 hours of service. We need to consistently record our volunteer time so that there is evidence that the work takes place on a regular basis. Next time a grant for better walking paths or better signage or more care services is written, know that our in-kind hours matter!

DonationsEVERY DONATION TO SDRSP IS APPRECIATED.

LISTED BELOW ARE RECENT DONORS:

MADISON AREA SCHOOL PERSONNELWINNER AREA SCHOOL PERSONNELHURON AREA SCHOOL PERSONNELSHIRLEY EISNACH – MEMORIAL FOR

WYLAND BORTH

– Thank You!–

Tiffany Beste, Yankton, winner of a $1000 SDRSP Scholarship, received it at the TIE Conference in Rapid City from Nancy May, executive director.

Katie Kruse, Watertown, was presented her $1000 scholarship by Bill Zubke and Denise Ottenbacher of the Watertown RSP.

Pg. 3

A Message from President Bill Zubke

The Yellow Brick Road Led Us to Deadwood (Spring Convention, 2017)

If what “they” say is true—that success breeds success—we should ALL be looking forward to next year’s state convention to be held at the Ramkota Inn in Sioux Falls on May 1-2. “Hooray for Hollywood” is the theme, and our convention committee has the program planned, the venues set, and from what I understand, as you walk the “red carpet”, the spotlight will be on you.Mark your calendars. Get out your bling. Join us as we celebrate what we did, who we are, and what we can continue to do to make a positive impact on our world. Meet old (mature?) friends. Make new (mature?) friends. Bring all those new members you have worked so hard to get with you! Let’s make this convention the biggest and best ever. Are you “ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille”? Enjoy a tremendous autumn and always remember you are loved!

There were the red shoes, the tin man, the lion, and the scarecrow! Were you there, too, to participate in the tour of Deadwood, a visit to the Mine and to hear amazing speeches

and a grandparent essay that delighted us all?

Above, L to R: The 5th grade essay winner and her grandma charmed everyone. • More good news from SD Retirement System - thanks, Travis! • Gretchen Tweet, Sioux Falls, met Black Hills artist extraordinaire Dick Termes • It wouldn’t be the “Wizard of Odd’s” without red shoes.

Above, L to R: Mr. Webb from Watertown and Paul Higbee discussed bits of South Dakota uniqueness. • AARP staff always bring “spark” to conventions. • Ron Riherd was the big winner at the slot tournament!

South Dakota Retired School Personnel

SDRSP

Cathy Zubke, Membership Chair417 North BroadwayWatertown, SD 57201

SDRSP.org

PRESORTEDSTD

US POSTAGE

PAIDRAPID CITY, SD

PERMIT #22

CHECK MEMBERSHIP ADDRESSES!It is important for all unit officers to check with each member for their correct address.

Not having correct addresses costs the organization a great deal of money. Send all address changes, as well as names and dates of deaths, to

Bill and Cathy Zubke, 417 North Broadway, Watertown, SD 57201Phone: 605-886-8637 • Email address: calz45@hotmail.com

“Because you taught • this world is a better place” from

Because You Taught by

Marilyn Kratz

Esther Smith • AberdeenIris Brownrigg • Rapid City

Erma Mikkelsen • Rapid CityVijaya Ramakrishnan • Rapid CityClara Schmitz • Rapid CityLucille Bormann • HuronEdith F. Olson • MitchellBeth Smith • MadisonMavis Knaus • MilbankDolores Mattson • SpearfishElizabeth Ruff • SpearfishDonald Paulson • Mobridge

Louise Rieger • MankatoBarb Newman • PierreRosemary Heber • RedfieldJanice Murphy • TulareMary Tubandt • RedfieldEula Griggs • HartfordDorothy Stivers • Sioux FallsClayton D. Carlson • WatertownBetty Hart • WatertownRuth Olson • WatertownMari Pickering • WatertownViolet Kaiser • WinnerIda Karlin • WinnerDorothy C. Meyer • WinnerGeneva Mueller • YanktonDoris Peterson • YanktonPatricia Schulze • YanktonBob Williams • Rapid CityLois Stengel • MilbankAlice Thielke • MilbankAlma Hofer • OtherWyland Borth • PierreRichard Greeno • Sioux FallsPhyllis Hoiseth • Sioux Falls